Chapter 4:
Psychological Factors & Health
Dr. M. Davis-Brantley
Health Psychology
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Health Psychology is the field of psychology that
studies the relationships between psychological
factors and the prevention and treatment of physical
illness
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Psychological factor can include attitudes, beliefs,
situational influences, and overt behavior patterns
Areas of focus include:
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How stress, behavior, and attitudes lead to or aggravate
illness
Coping with stress
Stress and pathogens interact to influence the immune
system
Utilizing intervention and behavior modification to promote
physical health
Stress and the Body
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What is Stress?
Fight/Flight system triggers certain physiological
responses
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Endocrine System is activated
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Corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) is secreted which leads to
secretion of ACTH
ACTH leads to secretion of cortisol/other corticosteriods which help
mobilize the body
Too much of this hormone in the body can result in health problems
(damage to cardiovascular system)
Nervous System is activated
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Sends a message to the autonomic nervous system to mobilize
ANS is composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous sys.
This system regulates glands and heart rate, respiration, digestion,
dilation, etc…
Fight or Flight Response
Stress and the Body: GAS
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In order to view reactions to stress Hans
Selye developed the concept of GAS
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General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a
term for a hypothesized three-stage response
to stress
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Ex: When under continuous stress the body is like
an alarm system that doesn’t shut down until
energy is depleted
Stress and the Body: GAS
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Alarm reaction is the first stage of GAS which
is triggered by the impact of a stressor
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Resistance Stage is the 2nd stage which is
characterized by prolonged sympathetic activity
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Fight/Flight system is activated
We enter this stage if the stressor is not removed after a
prolonged period of time
Endocrine levels and sympathetic activity are elevated
Exhaustion Stage
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Final stage where the body can no longer deal with the
stress
The body is now depleted; can lead to deterioration
Emotional Effects of Stress
Emotional Responses to stress include:
Anxiety—usually occurs in response to threats of stressors such as
physical danger, losses, and failure
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1.
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Anger—occurs in response to stressors such as frustration and social
provocation
2.
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Hostility differs from anger in that it is an enduring trait
Anger can also arouse both sympathetic and parasympathetic system
Depression—occurs in response to stressors such as the loss of loved
one, failure, inactivity, and/or prolonged stress
3.
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Trait Anxiety is anxiety that is a personality variable or persistent trait
State Anxiety is a temporary condition of anxiety that may be attributed to a
situation
Depression can be characterized by parasympathetic dominance
Emotions motivate certain kinds of behavior
These emotions have been known to motivate us to behave in
maladaptive ways
Should see negative emotions as a sign to learn from the situation and
use learning experience to prepare for next stressor that will occur
Cognitive Effects of Stress
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Our cognitions effect means in which we respond to
stress
We are motivated to seek optimal levels of arousal at
which we feel best and can function most efficiently
Strong physiological & emotional responses to stress
(characterized by high levels of arousal) can impair
cognitive activity and problem-solving ability
High levels of arousal can impede our ability to respond
to a stressful situation
Adaptive means of coping include:
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Lowering arousal (step away from situation)
Focus on removing the stressor or
Focus on changing one’s reaction to stressor
Stress and the Immune System
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When stress is not dealt with adequately can effect the body and health
Immune System is the system of the body that recognizes and destroys
antigens that invade the body in order to combat disease
Leukocytes are white blood cells. These cells engulf and kill pathogens
(bacteria, fungi, & viruses)
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Antigen is a foreign agent which the immune system has to respond to
In order to respond to the antigens leukocytes form Antibodies which
recognize and destroy antigens
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Engage in search-and-destroy missions
The antibodies attach to antigens and deactivates them, immune system
“remembers” how to battle these later by maintaining antibodies in the bloodstream
Inflammation is a function of the immune system where there is an
increased blood flow to the injured area of the body, resulting in redness,
warmth, and increased supply of white blood cells
Psychoneuroimmunology is the field that studies the relationships b/n
psychological factors and functioning of the immune system
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Stress and HIV/AIDS
Psych methods have been said to contribute to improved immune func tion
Multifactorial Approach to Health
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Suggests that many factors can impact a person’s
health including:
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Biological Factors—Family history, genes, birth complications, medical
history, inoculations, age, exposure to infectious organisms
Sociocultural Factors—SES, social class, family size, insurance,
prejudice, health-related cultural/religious beliefs and practices
Environmental Factors—Vehicular safety, water quality, solid waste
treatment/sanitation, pollution, radiation, global warming, natural disasters
Personality Factors—Seeking (or avoiding) information about health risks,
psychological hardiness, self-efficacy expectations, psychological conflict,
optimism/pessimism, locus or control
Stressors—Daily hassles, major life changes, frustration, pain and
discomfort, social support
Behavioral Factors—Diet, excessive alcohol use, smoking, level of
physical activity, sleep practices, safety practices (using seat belts, safe sex
practices, adequate prenatal care), medical care/checkups, interpersonal
skills
Health and Ethnicity
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Consider this Multifactorial Approach?
African Americans reportedly have a life
span that is 7 years shorter than that of
European American
Latin Americans are catching up with
African Americans
What factors may impact this?
Health Problems and Psychology
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Muscle-Tension Headache
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During stressful situations (during the first two stages of GAS) we are
likely to contract muscles in the shoulders, neck, forehead, and scalp
Persistent stress can lead to muscle-tension headaches
Migraine Headache
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A throbbing headache caused by wavelike firing of neuron in the brain,
which creates ripples of neural activity that reach pain centers in the
brainstem
Can last hours or days
Characterized by the preceding “aura”
Often accompanied by sensitivity to light, loss of appetite, nausea,
sensory/motor disturbance, changes in mood, etc…
Triggers include barometric pressure, pollen, drugs, MSG, chocolate,
cheese, alcohol, and hormonal changes
Health Problems and Psychology:
Menstruation
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Dysmenorrhea
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Pain or discomfort during menstruation
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Amenorrhea
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Is the absence of menstruation and is a primary sign of infertility
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Primary Dysmenorrhea-menstrual pain or discomfort that occurs in the
absence of known organic cause
Secondary Dysmenorrhea-menstrual pain that is caused by an identified
organic cause
 Organic causes include endometriosis, pelvic inflammation, ovarian
cysts
Can be caused by abnormalities in the reproductive system, hormonal
problems, cysts, tumors, and stress
Also a symptom of Anorexia nervosa
PMS
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A cluster of physical and psychological symptoms that afflict ¾ of
women prior to menstruation
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Known to be associated with Serotonin and GABA
Health Problems and Psychology
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Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
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Leading cause of death in the US
Factors that contribute to CHD include:
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Family History
Physiological Conditions (Hypertension)
Behavioral problems (heavy drinking, smoking, bad food)
Type A Behavior
Hostility/Harboring Anger
Job Strain
Reduce Risk of CHD through behavior modification
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Stop smoking, control weight, reducing hypertension, lowering LDL
Cholesterol, Exercising, Managing Stress
Health Problems and Psychology
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Cancer
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Characterized by the development of abnormal, or
mutant, cells that may take root anywhere in the body
Risk Factors include:
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Carcinogenic Genes can make an individual more
susceptible to cell division
However, other behavior patterns heighten risk for cancer
such as smoking, drinking excessively, eating animal fats,
and sunbathing
Stress and Cancer